NC troopers announce arrest of driver who allegedly hit House speaker's vehicle multiple times

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol said Friday it has made an arrest in an incident in which a vehicle transporting state House Speaker Tim Moore was struck multiple times in the rear.

The agency, in response to a request for information from Just the News, said after Moore's office reported the incident Thursday night, that James Brogden, of Goldsboro, N.C., has been arrested in connection with the incident. 

The agency also confirmed the account of the incident from Moore's office, saying that the vehicle in which the speaker was traveling was "struck in the rear ... multiple times." 

The incident was a hit-and-run and occurred at about 9:45 p.m. on Interstate-87 in Wake County, when a 2000 Chevrolet S10 pickup that Brogdon, 38, was allegedly driving struck a 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe in which Moore, his chief of staff, Dan Gurley, and state GOP Rep. David Willis were passengers.

The agency also told Just the News the incident is "not believed to have been an intentional act" and that its preliminary investigation indicates "impairment was a factor."

The law enforcement officer driving the lawmakers after their vehicle was struck activated his emergency lights to signal the pickup truck to stop. The driver eventually stopped, and highway patrolmen arrived later.

The officers upon arriving took Brogdon to hospital, then to county detention center where he was charged with Misdemeanor Speed to Elude Arrest, Failure to Heed Blue Lights and Siren, Hit and Run, Driving While Impaired, Failure to Reduce Speed to Avoid a Collision, Resist Public Officer and Damage to Property," the agency also said.

No one in Moore's vehicle was injured. 

The statement issued by the Moore spokesperson reads: "Security was driving the Speaker and Rep. Willis back to Raleigh after a visit to Wilson for a series of events today. On the drive back, the vehicle was rammed from behind several times. General Assembly police and highway patrol responded and the circumstances are under investigation. Thankfully, no one in the vehicle was hurt." The statement did not say Gurley also was a passenger.